Having observed the disconcerting willingness of the mainstream media to play along with the McCain campaign's aggressive attempts to undermine Obama's presumed fitness to lead the nation as Commander-in-Chief in recent weeks it seems we may have reached a turning point.  For quite some time the media has agreeably aired tendentious narratives with a very 'Gee whiz' insouciance as to the actual content, not to mention replaying endless videos purported to be 'campaign ads' which ran in very limited broadcast markets but received millions of dollars of free exposure in endless replay for cable and broadcast news audiences.  One wondered how long this would continue and now perhaps there is a sign of some reluctance to doltishly play along.

Consider today's piece from Jake Tapper, no Obama loyalist, to say the least, on the McCain campaign's most recent effort (emphasis added throughout):

We, in the media, have given a lot of airtime to the TV ads of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., this week, starring, as they do, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

There's been evidence emerging that McCain's campaign isn't really running these ads anywhere, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group.

"These were basically video press releases," CMAG's Evan Tracey tells the Wall Street Journal.

OK, so that's kind of dishonest of the McCain campaign.

Jake Tapper - Did Obama Say Iran Is a 'Tiny' Country That 'Doesn't Pose a Serious Threat'? ABC 27 Aug 08

OK, there's a self-evident piece of punditry for a start.  Only about eight weeks too late, but never mind.  Second thoughts but no contrition on the part of the national media, but you get that.  But it gets better:

Today's new McCain ad -- "Tiny," which you can watch HERE -- crosses a new line into dishonesty, however, beyond whether or not it's actually airing anywhere.

The script reads: "Iran. Radical Islamic government. Known sponsors of terrorism. Developing nuclear capabilities to 'generate power' but threatening to eliminate Israel.

"Obama says Iran is a 'tiny' country, 'doesn't pose a serious threat,'" the ad continues. "Terrorism, destroying Israel, those aren't 'serious threats'? Obama -- dangerously unprepared to be president."

This is a dishonest representation of Obama's words.

Jake Tapper - Did Obama Say Iran Is a 'Tiny' Country That 'Doesn't Pose a Serious Threat'? ABC 27 Aug 08

Huh?  Did one read that correctly?  You bet.  I wonder if we are turning a little corner here, every little bit helps.  Jake Tapper continues, impressively, with a full quotation of Obama's original comments in his article and provides a video link as well, which you can see here.  Ironically, it's really worth watching.  And his conclusion?:

That is not even close to Obama saying Iran is a "tiny" country that "doesn't pose a serious threat."

Not even close.

Jake Tapper - Did Obama Say Iran Is a 'Tiny' Country That 'Doesn't Pose a Serious Threat'? ABC 27 Aug 08

Wow.  Simple, straightforward and unequivocal demolition of the McCain campaign's 'video press release' at first point-of-contact.  Bet they think twice about trying that again.  And let's hope this is an indication that the 'honeymoon' is over and the media, at least the print media, has woken up to the fact that they are being played like a violin by someone with a tin ear.

Incidentally, one usually includes a feedback link when the media drops a clanger so it seems only fair to provide one when they are actually doing their jobs, and let's hope to see more of the same for many cycles to come.  You may contact ABC here and show your support for genuine journalism.

One of MYDD's most notorious HR abusing trolls has returned, posting a diary begging forgiveness for it's trollish behavior.

Some weeks ago this poster left MYDD after begging and pleading in emails for everyone to leave MYDD for it's new blog (where it hoped to cash in on the election fever).  You all know of whom i speak.  It was a well-known HR abuser.  

When the mods refused to ban Clinton supporters from MYDD it left to make a new blog, and enticed others to leave here and join it (I know, I got one of it's emails begging me to leave MYDD).

Now that it's new blog has failed it has come crawling back here.  It started with a diary (which it swore it would never write here again) admitting that it was a troll all along.

For instance:

"I've spent the last two or three months demonizing and vilifying the people around here who said they couldn't or wouldn't vote for Obama"

Yes you have.  You have consistently demonized anyone who didn't agree with you.  It's nice to see you admitting your trolldom.

"I've claimed that none of them were true Democrats and said their motivations were purely self-centered. I've called them fools and Republicans. I've even called some of them racists."

Yes you have called many folks racist. It was your standard demonizing trick.  You should be ashamed.

"This is a site dedicated to electing Democrats"

This site is none of your concern.  You left here in a huff to start your own blog.  Again, I alert the mods to the fact that you tried to get people to leave here to join you (against MYDD terms of service).

To anyone concerned, here is a portion of the email it was sending around.

""I can't make the decision of what to tell people. We aren't entirely set up anyway. ...I can tell  you that anyone who visits the new blog, will be posting under a relatively strict set of guidelines. The MyDD troll fest is the reason we're doing this in the first place, and people will be banned for any sort of trolling.""

Yes and you broke MYDD rules by trying to lure people away from here.

MODS, be advised that this troll will only continue to attack people who disagree with it, HR abusing them and enticing others to do the same.

It is a deceitful, treacherous thing.  It lives under a bridge and lives only to pounce on the unsuspecting.

"Well. I'm here to issue an apology."

Apology refused.  Go back to your amateur blog that no one visits.  You've burned your bridges here.

"News Sites Love McCain...."
McCain has a 3 to 1 advantage on MSM sites: ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox!
* (See extended entry for reference)

HELP ACT, Please. YOU ARE NEEDED! Stop blogging to the converted. Obama is getting slandered with no rebuttals on USA Today! It seems like 10:1  ! So much so that folks are saying "where are the Obama supporters?".
http://www.usatoday.com/politics

Your comment can be one click away from 12 Million plus unique eyeballs a month!
Look for articles with 10 or less comments then you can be seen with the article forever!
McCain dominates on these sites too. It looks like no one supports Obama!
http://cbsnews.com
http://abcnews.com
Stop Blogging to the Converted!

The "Delegate Counter" has been an anachronism for two months. Can't you ship it off to NO QUARTER or some other crappy PUMA site. This horse has been dead for a long, long time.

Trust me. It's over! Let's move on, already. Hillary really wants you to do this.

OK.

We are past the primary.
We are past the nomination.
We are past the VP selection.
The Clintons have given great speeches.
Love and admiration has been shown towards both Hillary and Bill.

This is it.

In 1976, I unfortunately didn't have the chance to watch Barbara Jordan's Keynote Speech to the Democratic Convention in New York (I think I was at work). I do remember hearing and reading about her landmark speech. Jordan was the first Black Woman to give the keynote address to a national convention of a major American political party. Like the Gettysburg Address Barbara Jordan's 1976 Keynote Address will stand out in American History as one of great speeches. Barbara Jordan's visionary Keynote Address stands the test of time and sounds just as relevant today as it did in 32 years ago at the Democratic Convention that nominated Jimmy Carter.

It's all coming together who would have thought a week ago?
I now understand why Joe Biden was considered for the VP.

I now understand why the Clintons have always admired Biden.

Joe seems in some ways to be like an average Joe but boy is he mad and that compliments Obama.

Many of us are ANGRY at how our country has been dragged through the mud by the Neocons and George Bush.

Biden will speak for for us because we should be angry.

John McCain voted against the minimum wage 19 times. Talk about OUT OF TOUCH I guess when you have 7 homes issues like this are "important" So much for the trickle down theory.

Biden is a great "attack dog"

REMEMBER when Michelle Obama said " I HAVE TO THINK about supporting hillary if she wins the nomination"----  You remember that ?????

The real celestial clouds opened up and bestowed upon you 99% of African Americans and 'white guilt' voters; the true messiah of democratic politics.  Yeah, Yeah, I fully expect to be banned by the part owners of this place tonight for speaking one's mind that is not in line w/ their Obama worship, but I don't care.

Because tonight we saw the only greatest president in the history of modern American politics say "you can't touch this" as I add to that an addendum "you punks".  Tonight the real democrat spoke, spoke in terms that touched our minds and not heart. Minds because? It is the mind that is responsible for intelligent thought vs. hearts.  Flowery language is not what feeds my kitchen table.   Bill "bubba" " You can't fucking touch this" Clinton is the poster child of that kitchen table prosperity .

So I say to you again fully knowing that the part owners of this place that allow you Obama supporters to say words like mother fucker and language alike with impunity-  to suddenly have some moral standards that will ban me from here?   I say to you and them - F*^K you and the horse you rode on to tell us how we Clinton die hard should act as and how we should " get over it".

And to you newly minted  flip flop punks who now suddenly write diaries here about how great Hillary is in the last 48 hrs, with your newly found asskissing  talents,  after  18 months of regularly cursing her and only doing so because you know your candidate can't do it without us.  You don't fool us! --- Not a single Hillary die hard is falling for it

HAIL to the only chief - BILL CLINTON.